Freshman Whitley Johns (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde HS) scored for the third time in as many matches as Dixie State collected its third shutout win to open the 2018 regular season, 1-0, at Cal State Los Angeles Monday afternoon at CSULA's Jesse Owens Track.

With the win, Dixie State posted its third-straight shutout victory to begin the season, which marked just the second time in the program's NCAA-era that the Trailblazers had started a year with three shutout wins. In DSU's first year of NCAA play in 2006, the program registered three consecutive shutout results on its way to a program-best 4-0-0 start.

Johns got the Trailblazers (3-0-0) on the board midway through the 17^th-minute when senior Taylor Claiborne (Peoria, Ariz./Raymond S. Kellis HS) played a long pass to the freshman, who blasted home a shot just inside the near post from the left wing. Johns also had a great look at another goal in the second half, but Golden Eagle netminder Adriana Maldanado cut down the angle inside the 18-yard box to deflect the chance.

That lone tally proved to be enough, however, as the Blazers' defense locked down the Golden Eagles (2-1-0) as DSU limited CSULA to just two shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes and seven total shots for the match (2 SOG). DSU's tandem of sophomore Nicole Rahman (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes HS) (W, 3-0-0) and junior Felicity Tarr (Tucson, Ariz./Mountain View Marana HS) combined for the shutout win in goal, with Tarr stopping both Golden Eagle shots on frame in the second half. 

"This was a very difficult game for both sides playing their third game in five days," says DSU Head Coach Gerry Lucey. "I am very proud of our players who exemplified the true Trailblazer spirit in battling through a determined CSULA side to come out on top.

"Defensively we were very solid again with Alexa Ashton (St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) and Nichole Mertz (Springville, Utah/Springville HS)," Lucey added. "One special mention would be for our birthday girl Kilee Lamb-Allsop (Smithfield, Utah/Sky View HS), who played an excellent game in a couple different positions. Now it is time to rest up and get ready to go again this weekend."

Dixie State was credited with nine shots, seven on goal, with Johns accounting for six of those attempts (five SOG).

Dixie State returns home for an exhibition friendly vs. Snow College inside Trailblazer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. DSU will then continue its season-opening road swing with another trip to SoCal for a match at former Pacific West Conference rival Azusa Pacific on Thursday, Sept. 13.